[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Disclaimer: this article is relevant as of 25 October 2020 according to the Victoria State Government Department of Health and Human Services. As such, the circumstances for wedding ceremonies may change in the meantime.
The long and skinny is yes, you can get married in Victoria in 2020! Importantly, the restrictions on wedding ceremonies will certainly change the way you can get married in 2020, so they’re worth bearing in mind if you are indeed tying the knot this year.
Victoria State of Disaster Restrictions
According to government restrictions as of 25 October 2020, Second Step restrictions in Metropolitan Melbourne must:
- Include no more than 5 people. This includes both the couple and two witnesses, but the celebrant does not count towards this limit.
- Take place in an outdoor venue. Indoor venues such as within a place of worship are not permitted, but outdoor weddings can be, in many cases, a wonderful experience.
- Take place within Metropolitan Melbourne. You cannot leave the city to be married or to participate in a wedding elsewhere in Victoria.
In Regional Victoria, the following Third Step restrictions include:
- No more than 10 participants. This includes both the couple and two witnesses, but the celebrant does not count towards this limit.
What is Expected to Change?
As of 11:59 on 1 November 2020, Metropolitan Melbourne may (depending on circumstances) move to Third Step restrictions. Therefore, weddings can include up to 10 participants as mentioned above.
In Regional Victoria, Third Step restrictions are expected to remain in place from 1 November on, but if epidemiological conditions permit, some restrictions may be lifted.
Should I Plan a Wedding?
There’s no way about it: if you’re planning a wedding in these troublesome times, you should not have the same expectations as for weddings back in the ‘good old days’. You are permitted to get married, and if that moment of joy takes place in the current situation you have options available to you to make that moment last for perpetuity.
Don’t let the ‘rona get the better of your wedding plans and instead create a light in the darkness and let your joy light up your hearts, your family, and your community. If you’d like to organise a wedding in Victoria in 2020, look no further than Harbour Kitchen and our beautiful harbourfront views and the wonderful Melbourne city skyline.
Keep it Simple, Keep it Intimate
Small weddings, whether by choice or by governmental decree, can be intimate settings for loving couples and their closest of friends and family members. The entire focus of your wedding can be tailored so that it is not only safe and secure according to guidelines, but also enjoyable and stress-free.
Perhaps you may have to sacrifice singing and dancing due to restrictions, and there’s no way around that. Instead, use the opportunity to engage speakers, and revolve the event around a pleasant dinner amongst your closest loved ones.
The Harbour Kitchen
If you’re planning to get married in 2020, use the opportunity to make the best of the situation and don’t let the current restrictions separate you from that golden moment of joy. The Harbour Kitchen provides a breathtaking venue, gourmet canape and dining options, cocktail reception, and all of the features you could wish for to make your wedding unforgettable.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
